Injection Molding Valve Seat Structure for Durable Backflow Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional backflow prevention valves in injection molding machines suffer from wear and tear, leading to compromised sealing and reduced durability, necessitating frequent replacement and increased maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A backflow prevention system featuring a displaceable valve body and valve seat portions made of materials with varying hardness levels, securely fastened between flow path members using bolts, ensuring reliable sealing and easy replacement without brazing or welding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the valve body and valve seat are repeatedly pressed against and separated from each other during operation, then the backflow prevention function is achieved, but the abutting portion is worn and durability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The valve seat is made of a material with higher hardness than the flow path member to increase its wear resistance specifically at the abutting portion where wear occurs during repeated opening and closing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The valve seat is formed by combining a flow path member with a harder valve seat material (such as cemented carbide or ceramic) through methods like bonding or coating, creating a composite structure that combines the advantages of both materials
2Ease of repair
If the valve unit is made detachable for easy replacement, then maintenance ease is improved, but the assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve unit is designed as a detachable component that can be separated from the flow path members, allowing it to be replaced independently without replacing the entire injection molding machine system
Solution Approach 2:
The valve unit is pre-assembled with the valve body and valve seat as an integrated unit before installation, so that during maintenance only the complete valve unit needs to be replaced rather than disassembling and reassembling individual components
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enhances the durability of backflow prevention by maintaining effective sealing over long periods, reduces maintenance loads, and allows for easy installation and removal of the valve unit, thereby improving the operational stability of injection molding machines.
Implementation Method 1
a method of a simpler structure is also studied. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-255588 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-330672 describe a backflow prevention valve that performs an opening/closing operation by moving a valve body using a pressure difference between molten resin before and after the valve
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a first flow path member configured to define a first section of a flow path, a second flow path member configured to define a second section of the flow path, and a valve unit configured to suppress backflow in the flow path. The first section and the second section are connected via the valve unit. The valve unit comprises a displaceable valve body and a first valve seat portion. The first valve seat portion is configured to close the flow path in a case where the valve body abuts. The first valve seat portion is configured to abut on the first flow path member and is made of a material having higher hardness than that of a material constituting the first flow path member.